Ricky Burns has been handed a route back to world title level with a WBC eliminator.

Ricky Burns has been handed a route back to world title level with a WBC eliminator.

The Scot will take on unbeaten Montenegrin Dejan Zlaticanin on June 27 in Glasgow after the WBC approved the fight for the international lightweight title. It will double as an official eliminator for the world title.

The main belt is currently held by Omar Figueroa, who has been ordered to defend it against fellow Mexican Daniel Estrada in the coming months.

Burns conceded his WBO title in March when he lost in a unanimous points decision to unbeaten American Terence Crawford.

Burns feels changes to his regime can help him rejuvenate his career against his southpaw opponent, who is ninth in the WBC rankings.

The 31-year-old is training in Essex under Tony Sims, and has been sparring with former world title opponent Kevin Mitchell, after splitting with Billy Nelson.

The Coatbridge fighter said: "Switching trainers and moving down south has made me more hungry and more determined. I've got a point to prove to myself that I have another world title in me.

"After the last fight people were saying 'Ricky is finished, he's found his level, he has overachieved'.

"Do you know, throughout my career I have never ever said I'm going to do this or that, I've just taken one fight at a time and got on with it.

"Freshening things up has brought my hunger back. I'm actually enjoying boxing more now. It's a great bunch of guys to train with and the sparring is top quality."

Burns had been unconvincing in his final two successful defences and took the decision to move away from the home he shares with wife Amanda and baby boy Leon.

"When you're away from home, you are leaving all the distractions behind," he said.

"When I'm down there, you are basically training, eating and sleeping, concentrating on the boxing side of it with no distractions."

The Braehead Arena card will also see British light-welterweight champion Curtis Woodhouse take on Commonwealth champion Willie Limond with both belts on the line.

Former Sheffield United and Birmingham player Woodhouse had vowed to quit when he won the belt from Darren Hamilton.

But he said: "I didn't want to leave with a million what-ifs. I didn't want to be thinking 'could I maybe have become British and Commonwealth champion, could I have fought for the European title?'

"I wanted to see how far I can go and just keep trying to climb mountain after mountain until one mountain is too big.

"I wanted to fight somebody that fans would give universal respect for fighting. You only beat Willie Limond if you're the real deal.

"I wanted to fight somebody who would put the fear of God in me, and that's one of the reasons why I am coming to Scotland as well.

"I have never been to a live Ricky Burns fight. I sparred him once and that was enough. But just watching his fights on the TV, you can hear the atmosphere coming through. I can't wait."

Limond, whose previous British title fights ended in defeat by Alex Arthur and Anthony Crolla, added: "I'm nervous about this fight as well because I know it could be my last big shot at anything.

"I need to perform 100 per cent. If it's any less I will get beat and I don't want to think about getting beat."